Everything about Santa Maria In Cosmedin totally explained
Santa Maria in Cosmedin (or
de Schola Graeca) is a
basilica church in Rome. It is located in the
rione of
Ripa.
History
The church was built in the
6th century over the remains of the
Templum Herculis Pompeiani in the
Forum Boarium and of the
Statio annonae, one of the food distribution centres of ancient Rome (another is to be found at
theatre of Balbus). A deaconry was a place where charity distributions were given to the poor, and it looks likely that such an institution would have been built near the Roman
annona.
Since it was located near many Byzantine structures, in
7th century this church was called
de Schola Graeca, and a close street is still called
della Greca. Greek monks escaping iconoclastic persecutions decorated the church around
782, when pope
Adrian I promoted its reconstruction; the church was built with three
naves and a
portico. Because of its beauty, the church received the adjective
cosmedin (from Greek
kosmidion), beautiful. A sacristy and an oratory dedicated to St. Nicholas were added in the
9th century, by order of
Pope Nicholas I, who also built a papal residence, but they were removed in
1085 by
Robert Guiscard's
Norman troops.
It was in Santa Maria in Cosmedin that were elected the popes
Gelasius II (who had been
Cardinal Deacon of
Titulus S. Mariae in Cosmedin),
Celestine III, and the antipope
Benedict XIII (Cardinal Deacon of this church).
A substantial restoration was accomplished in
1118-
1124 under Alfanus, camerarius of
Pope Callixtus II. After being acquired by
Benedictines and a period of decay, in
1718 the church was brought up to a
Baroque style, mainly expressed by a new façade, by
Giuseppe Sardi in
1718. The Baroque additions, however, were removed in the restoration of
1894-
1899 together with the coat-of-arms of
Pope Clement XI.
Among the former titular deacons of the church is
Reginald Cardinal Pole, the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury.
Architecture
The church draws many visitors because of
la Bocca della Verità, an ancient sculpture thought to be a drain covering, located in its portico; yet is in fact primarily worth visiting for its exceptionally well preserved early medieval choir enclosure and its very fine
Cosmatesque pavement. Its bell tower is the tallest medieval belfry in Rome.
The current interior has a nave with two aisles: these are divided by four pilasters and eighteen ancient columns. In the side walls some of the old columns of the
Statio Annonae are included. Other fragments of the ancient building can be seen in crypt. Paintings from
8th-
12th centuries, in three layers, are preserved in the upper part of the nave and in triumphal arch. The
Schola cantorum is from the 13th century, while the main altar is a red granite piece from
1123. The Easter candelabrum is also from the 13th century.
The sacristy houses a precious 8th century mosaic fragment brought here from the
Old St. Peter's Basilica. Of the
18th century restoration, the Crucifix Chapel and the Baptistry can be seen today.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Santa Maria In Cosmedin'.
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